Harpooned whale hoisted above ship

Whaling was one of Australia's first industries, and it lasted well into the 20th century.

1 of 1

Whaling was South Australia's first industry, operating before the colony's establishment in 1836. The region's first major exports were whaling products – whale oil, used in lamps, soaps and leather-making; and whalebone, the plates in the mouths of toothless whales, used in corset stays, hoop skirts and umbrellas. Whales were sighted from lookouts, and boats stocked with harpoons, lines and fresh water raced to meet them. Chases sometimes lasted hours. Harpoons were hand-thrown, and when the whales had tired of dragging the boats, they were killed. By the 1860s, the industry was in decline. The number of whales was decreasing due to overfishing, and the newly discovered petroleum was replacing whale oil as a cheap fuel. However, whaling continued in Australia through the 20th century; this photo is dated to 1914. (State Library of South Australia)